8 April 2004 Edition

Malignant referendum decision

The Fianna Fáil/PD Government's decision to hold the referendum on
citizenship on the same day as the Local and European elections has
virtually guaranteed that the issue of race will pollute the election debate.

The parties are scapegoating immigrants and refugees to distract attention
from their wretched record of incompetence and neglect in public services.

When details of this referendum were announced Labour and Fine Gael both
said that it should not be held on 11 June. They must now stand by that
position. They must not support Minister McDowell by agreeing to the recall
of the Dáil a week early simply so that this legislation can be forced
through.

There is a burden of responsibility on the leaders of both those parties to
stand up to McDowell and allow for a debate that could be informed and held
away from the party political rhetoric of an election campaign.

While the text of the proposed wording is not yet public, it is clear that
the proposal is contrary to the Good Friday Agreement, which states that it
is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island of
Ireland to be part of the Irish nation.

What implications does this proposal have for the Good Friday Agreement? For
the position of Irish citizens born in the Six Counties?

The uncertainty about this exists in large part because the government
failed to bring this proposal to the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the
Constitution, or to engage with civil society, with the other political
parties, with immigrant and refugee groups.

So much for Mary Harney's claims that the decision was taken after
widespread consultation.

Instead, with the trademark overbearing arrogance this government is famous
for, it has decided to tack it on to the elections with the minimum of
debate about such a fundamentally important matter as citizenship.

The coalition has consistently failed to address the issue of immigration in
a fair and open manner. Now they are targeting asylum seekers, believing
that this is another group they can victimise without fear and get away with
it.

People tempted to back this referendum in the hope of seeing the burden on
services decrease should beware. If this referendum is passed when you wake
up the morning after you will still have a two-tier health system and rat
infested primary schools in a state of collapse and no more than an outside
chance of ever getting housing. The only thing that will change is the
government won't be able to blame immigrants for it.

Sinn Féin is fundamentally opposed to the referendum taking place on 11 June
and will do all it can to stop race becoming an issue. Republicans will
oppose this referendum and work with like-minded parties and organisations
to defeat it.

An Phoblacht Magazine

AN PHOBLACHT MAGAZINE:

The first edition of this new magazine will feature a 10 page special on the life and legacy of our leader Martin McGuinness to mark the first anniversary of his untimely passing.

It will include a personal reminiscence by Gerry Adams and contributions from the McGuinness family.

There will also be an exclusive interview with our new Uachtarán Mary Lou McDonald.